Are you moving to Knoxville? Not sure how to do it or where to start?
Today I am going to give you 8 things you should do before moving to Knoxville but before we jump into the tips, I just want to remind you that I make a living helping people like you create opportunity - the kind that only homeownership brings. So if you are thinking of buying or selling or investing in real estate and you live in the Knox County area or your thinking of relocating here, please give me a call. I help people like you every day and would love to help you too.
Visit Before You Move
You can research online all day before moving somewhere but nothing beats boots on the ground. If you really want to know what an area is like, what the vibe is, what the people are like, and how it's going to fit with your lifestyle, you really need to get there personally. You don't have to take a week or two either. Spend a weekend doing it. And if you absolutely can't make it, find an agent that is willing to help. No one knows an area better than a realtor and many of us are willing to go the extra mile and research areas that will match for you.
Screen Your Contacts
Depending on where you’re moving to, you might already know some people who live there or grew up there. There’s nothing people love more than to talk up where they’re from. So reach out to people you know and find out who they might know that lives in Knoxville. Once your connected, ask questions and get the information you want. Just don't take it all too seriously because sometimes people can be louder about the things they don't like than the things they do.
Research Schools
If you have kids and schools are important, it's quite easy to research schools. You can do it online first. But then if you want more, go back to step 2 and go through your contacts.
Consider Your Budget
According to experts, an out-of-state move involving professional movers often costs north of $4,000. If you decide to save some money and go the DIY route, you’ll still have to put up plenty of money on supplies, a moving truck, and lots of little expenses like gas, food, and time off work. The best way to figure out which system works for you is to establish what your moving budget is. Know what your ceiling is (making sure you have a cushion). Make a list of all the expenses you and see where you land.
Find a New Home
Are you renting or buying? Maybe you're going to stay with a friend. Either way, you need a destination once you're in that moving truck. So make sure you have that figured out.
Forward Your Mail
You don't want to fall behind in bills and you don't want to lose touch with those that care about you (unless you're going into witness protection...definitely don't forward your mail then).
Make sure you don't fall behind in life by forwarding your mail well before the move. You can usually give them a date of when you want the mail to start forwarding so it's pretty easy. You can also do it using a piece of mail from the post office or online. Whatever you're comfortable with.
Check the Local Licenses
Moving to a new state means you’re going to have to get a new driver’s license. But what other licenses and fees might you have to pay? If you have pets you’ll need to get a new pet license for each one. Your car might require new parking passes or registration requirements, and you’ll certainly need new license plates. Check with your local city and state websites to see what other considerations you need to keep in mind as well.
Are you buying a house in Knoxville? Maybe you need some stuff done before coming? One of the hardest things you might face is finding trusted vendors and professionals to work with. Whether you're needing a painter or a lender or a contractor of some kind...or even a moving company, you should download my trusted vendor's list. My list is vetted with professionals I work with regularly and all of them can be easily researched online. Click on the link in the description to download my vendor's list right now.
Sell Your House
You can’t forget about this one! Obviously, you can list your house on the open market and try your best to sell it quickly at a good price. However, if your move is sudden or it’s really important to align your move to specific dates, you might want to consider selling your house to an investor. Reputable companies like Nexus Homebuyers, have worked with sellers in this situation before and understand the nuances involved. They can give you a fair, cash offer and take one extra hassle off your hands so you can focus on everything else.
Well, that is it for today's blog and video. I appreciate you stopping by and I look forward to seeing for the next one.
If you're thinking of selling and would like my help click on this link to get a free home valuation made by me. If you are looking to buy, search homes by clicking here.